Justin Tomlinson, the North Swindon MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Creative Media Minister Ed Vaizey MP, has highlighted the vital contribution the video games industry makes during a visit to the Football Manager design studio.
Football Manager sells more than a million copies each year and the company behind it, Sports Interactive, has grown massively over the past twenty years; from two coders in the United Kingdom, to a company with staff from countless countries and which trades with the support of UK Trade & Investment, in every continent.
Football Manager sells more than a million copies each year and the company behind it, Sports Interactive, has grown massively over the past twenty years; from two coders in the United Kingdom, to a company with staff from countless countries and which trades with the support of UK Trade & Investment, in every continent.
Justin is a keen video game enthusiast and was formerly the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Video Games before his promotion to the Government in June.
During the visit, Justin and Ed had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that advanced skills funding and the video games tax relief have had on the company, which is taking young people from across the country, training them in a wide range of skills. Sports Interactive's Miles Jacobsen explained that many of the staff working on the Football Manager title had worked their way up through the company.
Justin and Ed were also joined on the visit UKIE Chief Executive, Dr. Jo Twist. The group had the opportunity to see the finishing touches being put to the latest instalment of the Football Manager franchise, due out shortly, and discovered that far from simply being a video game, thanks to deals with companies like ProZone, professional football clubs are now using the programme to help scout players. Additionally, the group discovered that the game scouted international sensation, Lionel Messi, more than five years before he made his Barcelona debut.
The company has now expanded beyond developing the game and has recently released a documentary on the game and its impact around the world, featuring fans and footballers from across the game.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: "As a huge football fan and an even bigger Football Manager fan, it was fantastic to visit Sports Interactive's studio with Ed Vaizey to see first-hand the benefits of the Government's support for the video games industry, and understand how Football Manager is made. Miles and his team have continuously developed and improved their product and now, consistently selling a million games a year, are showing the success being enjoyed by our thriving gaming sector. Sadly however, try as I might, Miles wouldn't divulge the secrets of success needed for me with the Premier League!"
